Neutropenia (or granulocytopenia) is a depression of the absolute neutrophil count to less than 1,500/mm3. Leukopenia is a related term, denoting the depression of the total leukocyte count. Although neutropenia is the most frequent cause ofleukopenia, a marked lymphocytopenia can depress the total leukocyte count in the "penic" range with a normal neutrophil count. However, a severe leukopenia always implies neutropenia.
Carcinoid tumors are generally thought to be sporadic, except for a small proportion that occur as a part of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes. Data regarding the familial occurrence of carcinoid as well as its potential association with other neoplasms are limited. A chart review was conducted on patients indexed for malignant carcinoid tumor of the gastrointestinal tract seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1988 and 1996. A survey of family history of malignancies and personal history of other tumors was mailed to all eligible patients. Data for 245 patients were analyzed. Observed rates of carcinoids and other malignancies were compared with Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data. Estimates of the cumulative probability for first-degree relatives developing a carcinoid tumor were calculated. Nine (3.7%) patients with carcinoid tumor had at least one first-degree relative with the same malignancy. The rate of carcinoid tumor in first-degree relatives of probands was higher (P < 0.0001) than expected based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results population data. Cumulative probability in a first-degree relative for developing a carcinoid was calculated to be 1.5% at age 80. There was an increased risk for developing a carcinoid tumor among first-degree relatives of patients with carcinoid. Neither patients with carcinoid nor their first-degree relatives had an increased incidence of other malignancies.
PURPOSE: Tart cherries contain numerous polyphenols that have the potential to improve endothelial function and reduce risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. The objective was to examine the acute effects of Montmorency tart cherry juice on vascular function in early hypertensive males. METHODS: A single-blind, randomized, cross-over design that employed a controlled dietary intervention with a wash-out period of at least 14 days was conducted. Fifteen males with early hypertension [systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 130 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≤ 80 mmHg, or both] received either a 60 mL dose of a Montmorency tart cherry concentrate (MC) or a placebo (PLA). Microvascular reactivity (laser Doppler imaging with iontophoresis), arterial stiffness [pulse wave velocity (PWV), pulse wave analysis], blood pressure and phenolic acid [protocatechuic (PCA) and vanillic (VA)] absorption was assessed at baseline and 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 h after consumption. RESULTS: Significant differences in SBP (p=0.002) and MAP (p=0.014) were observed between groups, with peak reductions in postprandial SBP of 16 ± 3 mmHg 2 h post MC consumption. In addition, there was an overall reduction in PWV following MC supplementation when compared to the PLA trial (p=0.014). These vascular improvements returned to near baseline at 8 h post MC consumption. No other vascular variables were altered after consumption of the MC concentrate compared with baseline or after consumption of PLA. Finally, there were significant rises in the phenolic acids PCA and VA peaking at 1-2 h post MC ingestion (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Montmorency, tart cherry intake acutely improves measures of vascular function in males with early hypertension. These benefits are likely to be mechanistically linked to the actions of circulating phenolic acids that are seen to increase following juice consumption. This work provides additional information of the potential importance of polyphenol-rich foods in health maintenance; critically this study shows new information on the application of Montmorency tart cherries, in particular positively impacting on vascular function.
The selective catalytic reduction of nitrates (NO3-) in pure water toward N2 formation by the use of gaseous H2 and in the presence of O2 (air) at 1 atm total pressure and 25 °C has been investigated over Pd−Cu supported on various mixed metal oxides, x wt % MOx/γ-Al2O3 (MOx = CeO2, SrO, Mn2O3, Cr2O3, Y2O3, and TiO2). It is demonstrated for the first time that a remarkable improvement in N2 reaction selectivity (by 80 percentage units) can be achieved when oxygen is present in the reducing feed gas stream. In particular, significantly lower reaction selectivities toward NH4+ and NO2- can be obtained, whereas the rate of NO3- conversion is not significantly affected. Moreover, it was shown that the same effect is obtained over the Pd−Cu-supported catalysts irrespective to the chemical composition of support and the initial concentration of nitrates in water used. The Pd−Cu clusters supported on 4.8 wt%TiO2/γ-Al2O3 resulted in a solid with the best catalytic behavior compared with the rest of supports examined, both in the presence and in the absence of oxygen in the reducing feed gas stream. DRIFTS studies performed following catalytic reduction by H2 of NO3- in water revealed that the presence of TiO2 in the Pd−Cu/TiO2−Al2O3 system enhanced the reactivity of adsorbed bidentate nitrate species toward H2. Nitrosyl species adsorbed on the alumina and titania support surfaces are considered as active intermediate species of the selective catalytic reduction of NO3- by H2 in water. Pd−Cu/TiO2−Al2O3 appears to be the most selective catalyst ever reported in the literature for the reduction of nitrates present in pure water into N2 by a reducing gas mixture of H2/air.
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0v30h60V0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='6' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='4' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30' clip-path='url(%23b)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='10' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='6' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)